Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-27
LED BY A CHILD.

Haft, As she came INTO hef sisi'l Iooih anu
threw OF her bonnet aud shawl.
Hilda, IA drawing pencil in her slim, white
fingers, lifted her cool, perfect face.
AS | can't dress myself In worm eaten
shingles dine oil of old DOORS or warm my
self with creaking shutters, | am not par
ticularly enthusiastic she syllabled, icily.
oh, well 2 responded Rachel, somewhat
abSently.
She busted herself about the wide, low
room, spread up the bed, busted IA shelf
watered pot of geraniums, aud at last
came and sat down on "A low seat ut Hilda's
feet.
Il don't suppose you will like 1t, llilda,
claSping her hands across her sisters knees
but | know it's so hard for you, the power
~ and deprivations-
| But what p interrupted Hilda, briefly.
we have the house, and | have already
made arrangements for a boarding school ;
| What 2 in astonishment.
Il have engaged 10 take five little girls to
board and teach
| Hilda sank back in her chair, her ivory
brow contracted, her royal purple eyes dark
and angry
Children TO board and teach here p
Il will tell you, Hilda. | met Mrs. Oil
Yer in the city, and she has lost her govern.
ess-the one she has had so long-and she
spoke of her wish TO send the children into
the country for the summer, and asked me
where would be n good place. They are too
| young to 20 the round of the watering pla-
ces with her-she is very gay and fashiona-
Bile, you know, and the best of mothers, per
| hapS- but she seemed 10 wish 10 provide
well for the girls, aud wanted them taken
care of and taught. To tell the truth, | had
thought ef this before, and IL offered To
take them. Mrs. Oliver was delighted.
| II you really mean TO keep school,
said she, Il will give you "A note 10 Mrs.
| L .Stman. She is obliged to 20 10 Europe,
and does not know what 10 do with Lilias
Arnold. Her mother is dead and her father
is down South, you know
1t almost made me dizzy, but took the
note and Went up into that palatial place :;
and Mrs Eastman said that If Mrs. Oliver
would trust me with her girls, might have
her niece-at least, till her father came
home
40 you mean Lionel Arnol p exclaimed
Hilda.
Il don't know. | believe so. / think il
very likely stammcred Rachel, delighted
10 sec the frown chased from Hilda's brow
by look of pleasure.
The latter SMILED, blushed, and bent over
her drawing.
You know we must do something, Rach-
cl went on and If you would teach what
music and drawing is needed, | would d.
! all the rest.
Perhaps | will, replied Hilda, evidently
absorbed I'm fIrr owf, thoughts.
You needn't be troubled any more than
that, dear, and dare say we shall get along
beautifully. am very fond of children,
you know
EIilda took no heed. She had gone 10 the
mirror, and stood arranging the dark curls
| about her ivory forehead then she waltzed
| lightly from the room.
She didn't take it very hard, and am so
glad :. sighed Rachel, still on the low seat,
her chin in her hands and her elbows on
| her knees
Why the matter had been so difficult 10
| explain TO the younger sister was n conun-
drum 10 be solved only by those who had
known these girls all their life, and knew
that Hilda was petted, beautiful tyrant,
| while plain, sweet Rachel had ever been
| her slave.
During the last year they had become or
| phans. Their father had died insolvent, and
only the efforts of the kindly lawyer who
| had settled the estate secured TO them the
| old house and beautiful garden where they
had always lived.
Rachel had thought her heart would
break If she lost that. But Hilda had Sc
cretiy determined that if secured, the Firs
| should be sold, willie she embraced n gayer
| life.
But matters had turned out so differently.
Here was the daughter of Lionel Arnold
coming under their roof
Very well she remembered that splendid
blonde face and elegant figure, though she
had only danced with him once at Mrs. Oil
ver's in PALMER days.
lie was the most distinguished man she
| had ever met, and the wealthiest.
How delightful he was And now to
meet him as-as-well, as the pretty young
| friend and teacher of his only daughter.
| (Hilda resolved TO become popular at once
with Lilias Arnold) Why, it would sim
| ply he one chance in thousand
So TO Rachels great relief and surprise,
she entered somewhat into the latter's plans
and arrangements for making the spacious
old house pay for its privileges of wide, sun
lighted rooms and oad-pathed garden
the lovcliest of Fairgrounds.
But Hilda did not fatigue herself. Itwas
one of that young lady's principles to al
ways keep herself fresh and comfortable.
But Rachel could not spare herself, and
the prospect looked fatiguing enough. To
establish schoolroom and rearrange the
chambers was task, but to dress, feed,
train and educate five children, from four
to twelve years old, was an elaboration of
Industries which, once undertaken, she
knew would admit of no rest.
She could afford but one girl, Mamie, n
supplemented but honest and strong crea-
ture, who had occasionally worked in the
family but all the responsibility and
much of the toll was hers. But Rachel
was practical, cheerful and hopeful, and
could not afford to be discouraged.
The children came, and Hilda immediate
~ singled out LillasArnold and showed her
partiality.
She certainly was beautiful child, of
great sensibility, about eight years old, and
Rachel's heart warmed to the sweet frank
face but her attentions and kindness were
more universally bestowed, and the most
winning attentions showed the young stran-
gers. Rachel must make happy all hearts